us under the discipline of the cross, our minds and hearts would be more alienated from God and heavenly things. "Before I was afflicted I went astray," Psalm cxix. 67. Now, since the best need it, God will not be wanting in any part or point of necessary government to them that they may know the worth and benefit of God's word, and that the comfort of it may be seen and felt by experience, how able it is to support us, and to uphold a heart sinking under any trouble whatsoever, Rom. xv. 4. In full prosperity, when we seem to live upon the creature, we know not the benefit of God's promise, nor how to live by faith: the word of God provides comfort to the seekers, not only at the end of the journey, but for their support at present, while they are in the way. These comforts would be useless if never put upon the trial, therefore none of God's children must look to be exempted. "The same afflictions are accomplished in your brethren that are in the world,” 1 Peter v. 9. Our condition is no harder than the rest of God's children, that have passed through the world. Christians are often ready to sink under their burden, they think they shall perish when they look to the bare afflictions. This may come from the grievousness of the affliction, which staggers and amazes them. "Thou hast showed thy people hard things, thou hast made us to drink the wine of astonishment," Psalm lx. 3. Their thoughts are confounded, as a man that has taken a poisonous potion. They know not to what hand to turnare wholly cast down, and put out of all comfort. It comes too from their weakness. There is some weakness in the most advanced christians, more than they are aware of. We are like Peter, we think we can walk on the sea, but some boisterous wind or other assaults our confidence, and then we cry out, "Lord, save me,"

Matt. xiv. 30; and so our weakness is made evident by proof-whence cometh this weakness?

1. Partly, because we look more to the creature than to God; and to the danger, than to the power that is to carry us through it. "I, even I am he that comforteth thee who art thou that shouldest be afraid of a man that shall die, and of the Son of man that shall be made as grass? And forgettest the Lord thy maker, that hath stretched forth the heavens, and laid the foundations of the earth; and hast feared continually every day, because of the fury of the oppressor, as if he were ready to destroy; and where is the fury of the oppressor?" We that have the immortal and almighty God to be our protector and Saviour, why should we be afraid of a frail mortal man?

2. If they look to God, yet God doth not seem to look to them. If a thin curtain be drawn between God and us, we are presently dismayed, as if he were wholly gone; and because of our sufferings, we question the love of God. "Hath God forgotten to be gracious, hath he in anger shut up his tender mercies?" Psalm lxxvii. 9. "Zion hath said, The Lord hath forsaken me, and my Lord hath forgotten me,” Isaiah xlix. 14. Though our condition be every way consistent with the fatherly love of God. "Ye have forgotten the exhortation, which speaketh unto you as unto children." We are children, though under discipline; and God is a father, though he frowneth as well as smileth.

3. Impatience of delay: if we question not his love, yet cannot we tarry his leisure. Certainly it is very meet we should wait God's leisure ;-though he seem asleep, he will awake for our help. But the people of God have not always the strength of faith, and therefore faint, and think themselves ready to perish : "I said in my haste, I am cut off," Psalm xxxi. 22.

4. Christianity itself entenders the heart; a Father's anger is no slight thing to a gracious soul. When we are afflicted and God is angry, the trouble is more grievous, and it is hard to steer between the two rocks of slighting and fainting; well then, pity poor creatures under the burden, help them, but censure them not. The true matter of comfort to be sought after is pardon and reconciliation with God, through his Son, Rom. v. 10. There is no solid cause for rejoicing till then; when reconciled to God by the blood of his Son, then true peace, peace that passeth all understanding, will guard both heart and mind, Phil. iv. 7. Then all miseries are unstinged, the intrinsic evil of afflictions is taken away. While sin remains unpardoned, the thorn still remains in the sore. There is a crown set against the cross to those that are reconciled;-heavenly comforts against earthly afflictions: the afflictions of God's children are comparatively light and short. Nothing should be grievous to them that know a world to come, where all tears shall be wiped from their eyes, and they shall enjoy fulness of joy and pleasure for evermore. "Be glad in the Lord, and rejoice, ye righteous, and shout for joy, all ye that are upright in heart." To all Christ's sincere, faithful and obedient servants, these promises are matter of abundant joy. As to particular comforts under affliction, it is endless to instance all, but take a few instances.

The word of God teaches us not only how to bear them, but how to improve them; as it teaches us how to bear them, it breeds quietness and submission; but as it teaches us how to improve them, it breeds peace and joy. This fruit is better than deliverance, as we get spiritual advantage by it; as it promotes repentance, purges out sin, and brings us home to God. It rids us

of the cause of our trouble, and brings us to the centre of our rest.

The word also teaches us to depend on God for moderating our afflictions, and for deliverance from them, 1 Cor. x. 13. Often before He gives a passage out of our pressures, He vouchsafes present support to us, and will not permit his servants to be tried beyond their strength. Under the cross too God gives his people most experience of himself; they have more peculiar support under suffering than for ordinary services; Paul was most strong when weak, 2 Cor. xii. 9, 10; the greater the pressures, the more sensible the Divine assistance; and when ordinary means fail, and God's children are pressed above their own strength, the more visible is the proof of God's help; when they are most apt to suspect God's love, they have had the highest manifestations of it-most of God's smiles, when all earthly things seem to frown upon them—in short, have had more understanding not only of God's word, but of his love. If God governs all things for the benefit of his people, surely then afflictions; and they submitting, and being exercised under sharp dispensations, may find it verified to them. Many things seem to tend to our hurt,-many think themselves utterly undone, but God knows how to bring good out of apparent evil.

This should lead us to consider how much we are to blame, who, professing ourselves to be christians, do so little honor our profession by patience and submission under troubles. Wherefore were the great mysteries of godliness made known to us, and the promises of the world to come, and all the directions concerning the subjection of the soul to God, and those blessed privileges we enjoy by Christ, if they all are not able to satisfy and stay your heart, and compose it to a quiet

submission to God's will, when it is his pleasure to take away all comfort from you? Is there no balm in Gilead? Is there no physician there? Will not the whole word of God yield you a cordial or a cure? It is a disparagement to the provision Christ hath made for our comfort. In refusing this provision, you indulge a distemper, and the obstinacy and peevishness of grief. Certainly you do not expostulate with yourselves, and cite your passions before the tribunal of the gospel, Psalm xlii. 5; or else you look altogether at the grievance and reject the comfort-aggravate the grievance-extenuate the comfort; you seek too much temporal happiness, would have God comply with your own desires, and are not content with such things as you have." A christian must be purged from such inordinate affection when he would trust in God.

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"Unless thy

David's comfort in trouble may be seen. law had been my delights, I should then have perished in mine affliction," Psalm exix. 92. Imitate his exampleprize the scriptures more-be more diligent in hearing, reading, meditating on the blessed truths of the gospel. The earth is the fruitful mother of all herbs and plants, yet it must be tilled, ploughed, harrowed, and dressed, else it bringeth forth little fruit. The scriptures contain all the grounds of comfort and happiness we need, but we have little benefit from them unless daily versed in reading, hearing, and meditation; surely if we prize them as we ought, we would do so. "O how love I thy law, it is my meditation all the day," Psalm cxix. 97. There we find the only remedy for sin and misery-the offer of true blessedness-the sure rule to walk by.

When afflictions come upon you, consider what is your greatest burden, and what is your greatest comfort,